As a member of our department for nearly two decades, having served as a reserve police officer and worked as a 911 dispatcher for nearly a decade, I've seen a lot and I've heard a lot, but nothing prepared me for February 12th, 2008.

Safety is critical and we all know that, but I learned a tough lesson that night that will live forever in my mind, my fellow brethren and my family.

The simple and short story is we were sent on two working house fires in less than 8-hours. One that was a rip-roaring blaze with burnt out floors, ceiling collapses, you name it. The second one was a fairly simple chimney fire with very little damage. Guess which one turned out to be the worst for me?

Upon arrival at the second and less damaging fire I helped the crew I was with establish a water supply and rounded up a few firefighters and led them to the door. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have seen the warning signs, but I didn't. At first my mask wouldn't seal, then it fogged up, lost my gloves on the floor, the lapel mic got hung up on the attic staircase in the garage, just complete confusion it seemed. And from that confusion, I somehow lost my helmet right off the top of my head.

Lesson #1: Tap head to make sure egg protector is securely fastened before going inside. A veteran firefighter inside smacked me on the head and made me aware of the situation.

I stepped back outside, fastened my helmet and went back in. By now, the fire was 99% extinguished and we went into salvage and overhaul mode. I discussed some tactics with a fellow captain and as we spoke a loud crash came from the kitchen area. A large portion of the ceiling had collapsed for no apparent reason. No one was standing there, not a lick of overhaul was going on - it just fell.

Just beyond the section that had just collapsed, someone had already piked the ceiling and an attic ladder was raised into the area to check for extension. Myself, that captain and a fellow firefighter walked into the kitchen to discuss some further tactics and then it happened.

Bam. A 4' x 8' piece of 5/8" thick drywall released without warning and it rapped me right on the head knocking me out cold. After coming too, I realized something was terribly wrong and I could hear chaos and confusion all around. Guys were digging me out. People were screaming rush traffic for medics. Others were calling my name.

Lesson #2: Look up and around when entering an area you know had just collapsed. Even though no water was even being sprayed, nor had it ever been and although no one was working in the area, that little extra overview might have helped. Or it may have been just pure dumb luck and a fluke.

Next up for me? Emergency transport to the hospital with an apparent pinched nerve in my neck. I never lost feeling in any extremities, but my arms were on fire (figuratively speaking). I tell people it felt like a combination of your arms falling asleep, a bad sunburn and that stinging feeling you get in your fingers when they're bitter cold. But it felt 10 times worse than that.

After tests here, x-rays there, things poked and prodded a pinched nerve was the least of my worries. You see the concussion from the falling debris slammed my disc between C4-C5 straight into my spinal cord and it was still pressing against the nerves. The next thing I know I'm being taken into emergency surgery to have my disc replaced, bone fragments removed and my vertebrae fused together.

What followed was two days in ICU, one more day in a shared room, then no work, 16-weeks of grueling physical therapy and a life altering injury that will never be 100% healed.

I have returned to the department and even fought one working house fire almost 1-year to the date of my injury. I could not leave my other "family" nor could I leave a piece of my life behind that has been so prevalent for so many years.

So for you young guns out there who feel immortal, the veterans who think they've seen it all and to those who are thinking about joining, know that the job(s) we all do is a glorious one. But also know that even the simplest of emergencies can go wrong in a split second that just might change your life or one of your own forever.